With every ending, there is a rebirth and that is what took place Wednesday morning in Cheboygan when the Kiwanis Club moved its nativity scene from its 50-year location to a new spot in town.

“This is a good day for the club,” said club President Lu Munger. “The manger left Washington Park, but it did not leave the city.”

The reason for the move happened Tuesday night when City Council voted at a special council meeting to ban all private displays on city-owned land until a set of policies and procedures could be adopted.

The move was brought on after a Madison, Wisc., group called Freedom From Religion Foundation asked to place a banner next to the nativity in the park which did not support Christmas.

“We still have the true meaning of Christmas and we are continuing to spread the word,” Munger said Wednesday. “We are thankful for the support of the people. We invite groups to add more decorations to the scene.”

Citizens National Bank CEO Sue Eno said it was an easy choice to give the space to the Kiwanis Club.

“We have to stand up for what we believe in,” she said. “The move here makes so much sense. We just don’t need the controversy in the city.”

The potential controversy could have come about if council would have allowed the erection of the FFRF banner or if it denied the request. If a denial was the route taken, the group more than likely would have sued the city on the basis of separation of church and state as it has done in other communities in Michigan.

“I respect council for doing what they did. That group (FFRF) is entitled to their beliefs as well,” Eno said. “However, we have a great location here, a more convenient location.”

Members of the group arrived at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and started to prepare the scene to be moved. Within 10 minutes after it was hitched to a pick-up truck, it had arrived at its new home.

“We are winning the battle against negative forces,” Munger said. “This is a uniting sort of thing.”

Eno agreed.

“This is a part of our community and our culture,” she said. “This shouldn’t be a controversial issue. We have extended the invitation for them to come back next year.”

Even though the situation has been resolved, there is a peaceful protest planned for tonight at 7 in Washington Park.